Ticket to Ride: India & Switzerland

1 Overview

This map pack includes two separate maps: India (2–5 players) and Switzerland (2–3 players). Both require train cars and cards from an existing Ticket to Ride game, they are expansion maps, not standalone games.

2 India Rules

India plays with standard Ticket to Ride rules, draw cards, claim routes, complete destination tickets, with one major addition: Mandala routes.

The map covers the Indian subcontinent from Karachi in the northwest to Colombo (Sri Lanka) in the south, with routes through major cities including Mumbai, Delhi, Calcutta, Madras, and Hyderabad.

3 Mandala Routes

Some destination tickets in India show a circular route, these are Mandalas. To complete a Mandala ticket, you must build a continuous route that starts at one city and returns to the same city through a loop (without doubling back).

Completing a Mandala earns double the ticket's face value. A Mandala worth 15 points pays 30 if completed. This makes Mandala tickets extremely valuable, but also risky if opponents block key segments of your loop.

Mandalas are optional: if you can't complete a Mandala route as a loop, you still lose the face value (like a failed normal ticket). You cannot complete a Mandala by going straight from A to B, the loop must close.

4 Switzerland Rules

Switzerland is designed for 2–3 players only. The map covers Switzerland and surrounding alpine regions. Key differences from standard rules:

• Bordering country tickets: Some destination tickets connect Swiss cities to "any tunnel city" or "any border with France/Germany/Austria/Italy." These flexible endpoints make planning easier but scoring lower.
• Tunnel rules apply: Switzerland is dense with tunnel routes using the standard tunnel mechanics from Europe.
• Small, competitive map: Routes fill quickly even with 2 players. Claim aggressively.

5 Scoring

India: Standard route scoring + tickets at face value (or double for Mandala completions) + Longest Route bonus +10.

Switzerland: Standard route scoring + tickets at face value + Longest Route bonus +10.

6 Strategy

India: Target Mandalas Early

Mandala tickets double in value. If you draw one, plan your loop early, identify the 6–8 routes you need and claim the most vulnerable segments first. An unfinished Mandala is a heavy penalty.

India: Force Opponents Off Your Loop

Mandala loops require specific circular routes. Opponents who can predict your loop will try to block one segment. Don't telegraph your Mandala plans by claiming routes in an obvious circle, work inward from the less-contested ends.

Switzerland: Draw More Tickets

The flexible "border country" tickets are lower risk and easier to complete. Draw more tickets than you normally would, some will be easy completions that pad your score with minimal routing effort.

7 Common Mistakes

• Starting a Mandala without a complete loop plan. Mandala tickets require a closed loop. Before claiming any routes for a Mandala, identify the full set of routes that form the loop and verify no single route is highly contested. Claiming half a loop and getting blocked on the other half leaves you with a large penalty equal to the ticket's face value.
• Playing India without the base Ticket to Ride game. This is a map pack, not a standalone game. You need the train cars, card deck, and scoring markers from an existing TTR game. Confirm you have a compatible base game before purchasing the India map pack.
• Misidentifying flexible Swiss ticket endpoints. The Switzerland map has destination tickets with endpoints like "any border crossing with Germany" rather than a specific named city. New players sometimes try to match a specific city to these tickets and get confused. Any city that borders the named country counts as a valid endpoint for flexible tickets.
• Ignoring the Longest Route bonus in India. India awards +10 points for the Longest Continuous Route, same as the USA base game. Players who complete Mandala loops may incidentally own the longest route, but completing a Mandala loop does not automatically win the Longest Route bonus; it depends on whether opponents have built longer continuous networks elsewhere.

8 India vs. Switzerland Map Comparison

This map pack includes two very different gameplay experiences in one box:

• Player count: India supports 2 to 5 players. Switzerland is designed for 2 to 3 only. Switzerland at 4 to 5 players becomes dangerously congested and is not a good experience.
• Unique mechanics: India adds the Mandala mechanic, which is simple to explain but deep in planning. Switzerland uses standard rules plus tunnel mechanics borrowed from TTR Europe. India is the more distinctive experience; Switzerland plays closer to a compact TTR Europe.
• Game length: Both maps run approximately 45 to 75 minutes, shorter than the base USA game. Switzerland games tend to finish faster due to the smaller map size even with 3 players.
• Best for 2 players: Switzerland's small map creates intense route competition with 2 players. India gives more breathing room but Mandala tickets become critical to winning because they double in value, making the decision to pursue them high-stakes.

9 Advanced Tips

Mandala Route Selection by Player Count

Not all Mandala tickets score equally for risk vs. reward. A ticket worth 8 points pays 16 on completion, while a ticket worth 20 points pays 40. High-value Mandala tickets require longer loops with more vulnerable segments. With 2 players, high-value Mandalas are often achievable because fully blocking a loop requires sustained commitment from your single opponent. With 4 to 5 players, shorter but more defensible Mandala loops are often safer choices even if they score less per completion.

Switzerland Tunnel Preparation

Switzerland has a high density of tunnel routes reflecting the alpine terrain. Tunnel attempts can fail, costing you your turn and your played cards. Always carry 2 to 3 backup cards of your intended tunnel color before attempting a critical tunnel route. Running a tunnel attempt with exactly the minimum required cards is high risk; bring extras or use Locomotive wildcards as insurance for important tunnels.